Mary Leonardo

Mary Leonardo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW-R, based in New York with 26 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and issues with self-esteem. She also addresses life purpose questions and a range of related concerns such as addiction, grief, and postpartum depression.

Mary spent decades in private practice, school social work, and substance use treatment. She draws on that breadth of experience when meeting people who feel stuck after a life change or who are unsure what comes next. In sessions she focuses on understanding the problem in the context of relationships and daily routines rather than using one fixed method.

Her way of working emphasizes collaboration and practical steps. Conversations may examine communication patterns, attachment dynamics, or behaviors that keep someone feeling stuck. The aim is to find what is useful in everyday life and try approaches that can be put into practice between sessions.

Mary often helps people untangle codependency, address substance use concerns, and cope with the fallout of divorce or separation. She also supports those dealing with family problems, eating and food-related issues, guilt and shame, and isolation or loneliness. Cancer-related adjustment and forgiveness work are within her scope as well.

Sessions are conducted in English and reflect many years of direct clinical work. People who want to begin are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to see if her way of working fits their current needs.

Approaches used and how online sessions work

Mary draws from evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on relationships and behavior. One approach looks at attachment patterns and how they affect current relationships; it helps people notice recurring interaction styles and try new ways of relating. Another approach examines behaviors and coping strategies, identifying habits that keep problems in place and practicing alternative actions that can change day-to-day routines.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying an approach, checking what helps, and adjusting as therapy progresses so the work stays relevant to what matters now.

The biography does not list specific online session formats. Confirm the available formats before booking so you know what to expect. In general, working with a licensed professional online can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. Some formats also reduce bandwidth or remove the need to be on camera, which can be helpful when someone prefers a quieter or quicker session.